Passively powered element with multiple energy harvesting and communication channels

Abstract

A passively powered element with multiple energy harvesting and communication channels is described. The passively powered element may include a number of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at multiple different frequencies. The passively powered element may further include a number of rectifiers, each coupled to a distinct one of the antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power and to receive data in the RF signals. An electronic device is coupled to the rectifiers to receive the DC power and the data from the rectifiers.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies;   a plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power and to receive data in the RF signals; and   an electronic device coupled to the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits comprises:
 a first capacitor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to one of the plurality of antennae;   a first diode having a first anode and a first cathode, the first cathode of the first diode coupled to the second end of the first capacitor; and   a second diode having a second anode and a second cathode, the second anode of the second diode coupled to the second end of the first capacitor and the first cathode of the first diode.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits further comprises:
 a second capacitor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first anode of the first diode, and the second end coupled to the first cathode of the second diode, wherein the second end outputs the data received in the RF signals.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an energy storage device coupled between the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits and a ground, wherein the energy storage device is further coupled to the electronic device.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage device includes a third capacitor. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage device includes an inductor. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage device includes a battery. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits comprises
 a data receiver to receive data in the RF signals;   a data transmitter to transmit data in the RF signals; and   a rectifier to rectify the RF signals into DC signals.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises:
 a RF data receiver to receive the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits; and   a power regulation and conversion module to receive the DC power from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits and to use the DC power received to power the electronic device.   
   
   
       10 . A system comprising:
 a passive element reader; and   a passively powered element communicably coupled to the passive element reader, the passively powered element comprising:
 a plurality of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies from the passive element reader; 
 a plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power, to receive data in the RF signals, and to transmit data in the RF signals; and 
 an electronic device coupled to the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits. 
   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the passive element reader comprises:
 a plurality of signal transmission modules; and   a host interface coupled to the plurality of signal transmission modules.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of signal transmission modules comprises:
 an antenna to transmit a portion of the RF signals at a distinct one of the plurality of frequencies;   an antenna switch coupled to the antenna;   a transmit circuit coupled between the antenna switch and the host interface; and   a receive circuit coupled between the antenna switch and the host interface, wherein the antenna switch selects between the transmit circuit and the receive circuit.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of signal transmission modules comprises:
 a transmit antenna to transmit a portion of the RF signals at a distinct one of the plurality of frequencies;   a transmit circuit coupled between the transmit antenna and the host interface;   a receive antenna to receive RF signals at one of the plurality of frequencies; and   a receive circuit coupled between the receive antenna and the host interface.   
   
   
       14 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of passive element readers; and   a passively powered element communicably coupled to the plurality of passive element readers, the passively powered element comprising:
 a plurality of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies from the passive element reader; 
 a plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power, to receive data in the RF signals, and to transmit data in the RF signals; and 
 an electronic device coupled to the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits. 
   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of passive element readers comprises:
 a signal transmission module; and   a host interface coupled to the signal transmission module.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the signal transmission module comprises:
 an antenna to transmit a portion of the RF signals at a distinct one of the plurality of frequencies;   an antenna switch coupled to the antenna;   a transmit circuit coupled between the antenna switch and the host interface; and   a receive circuit coupled between the antenna switch and the host interface, wherein the antenna switch selects between the transmit circuit and the receive circuit.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the signal transmission module comprises:
 a transmit antenna to transmit a portion of the RF signals at a distinct one of the plurality of frequencies;   a transmit circuit coupled between the transmit antenna and the host interface;   a receive antenna to receive RF signals at one of the plurality of frequencies; and   a receive circuit coupled between the receive antenna and the host interface.   
   
   
       18 . A method comprising:
 tuning a plurality of antennae to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies;   converting energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power;   receiving data in the RF signals;   transmitting data in the RF signals;   powering an electronic device using the DC power; and   processing the data using the electronic device.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein converting energy of the RF signals into DC power and to receive data in the RF signals comprises:
 using a first capacitor, coupled to one of the plurality of antennae, to temporarily store the RF signals received; and   using a plurality of diodes coupled to the first capacitor, to rectify the RF signals received to generate the DC power.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 storing the DC power in an energy storage device coupled to the electronic device.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the energy storage device includes a second capacitor. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the energy storage device includes an inductor. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the energy storage device includes a battery. 
   
   
       24 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies;   means for converting energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power;   means for receiving data in the RF signals;   means for transmitting data in the RF signals; and   means for powering an electronic device using the DC power, wherein the electronic device is operable to process the data in the RF signals.   
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the means for converting energy of the RF signals into the DC power comprises:
 means for rectifying the RF signals.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 means for storing the DC power.   
   
   
       27 . An apparatus comprising:
 a multi-band antenna to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies, the multi-band antenna comprising a plurality of ports;   a plurality of rectifiers, each of the plurality of rectifiers coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of ports, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power;   a data receiver coupled to the multi-band antenna, to receive data in the RF signals; and   an electronic device coupled to the plurality of rectifiers and the data receiver, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of rectifiers.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a data transmitter coupled to the multi-band antenna, to transmit data in the RF signals.   
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 an energy storage device coupled to the plurality of rectifiers, to store the DC power.   
   
   
       30 . An apparatus comprising:
 a multi-band antenna to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies, the multi-band antenna comprising a plurality of ports;   a multi-band rectifier having a plurality of inputs, each of the plurality of inputs coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of ports, the multi-band rectifier operable to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power;   a data receiver coupled to the multi-band antenna, to receive data in the RF signals; and   an electronic device coupled to the multi-band rectifier and the data receiver, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the multi-band rectifier.   
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a data transmitter coupled to the multi-band antenna, to transmit data in the RF signals.   
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 an energy storage device coupled to the multi-band rectifier, to store the DC power.   
   
   
       33 . A passive element reader comprising:
 a host interface; and   a signal transmission module coupled to the host interface, the signal transmission module comprising
 one or more transmit antennae to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies to a passive element, wherein the passive element harvests power from the RF signals and reads data in the RF signals, wherein the passive element is powered by the power harvested from the RF signals, and 
 one or more receive antennae to receive RF signals at the plurality of frequencies transmitted from the passive element. 
   
   
   
       34 . The passive element reader of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more transmit antennae comprise a multi-band transmit antenna. 
   
   
       35 . The passive element reader of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more transmit antennae comprise a plurality of single-band transmit antennae. 
   
   
       36 . The passive element reader of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more receive antennae comprise a multi-band receive antenna. 
   
   
       37 . The passive element reader of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more receive antennae comprise a plurality of single-band receive antennae. 
   
   
       38 . A method comprising:
 generating radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies using a passive element reader; and   transmitting the RF signals from the passive element reader to a passive element to cause the passive element to harvest power from the RF signals and to read data in the RF signals, wherein the passive element is powered by the power harvested from the RF signals.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 receiving RF signals from the passive element at the passive element reader.